Midfielder Whitehead was booked for the 10th time this season during last weekend's 2-0 win at Brighton and will sit out the game with the Rams at the Riverside Stadium, and Birmingham's trip to Teesside which follows it, as a result.

Head coach Aitor Karanka otherwise has no fresh injury problems, although he still has a lengthy list of casualties. Goalkeeper Tomas Mejias is close to a return after recovering from a dislocated finger, although Karanka's defensive resources remain painfully depleted.

Jonathan Woodgate continues to battle a calf problem he aggravated in training and Daniel Ayala (ankle), Seb Hines (thigh), Rhys Williams (Achilles) and Stuart Parnaby (knee) are still out, while Muzzy Carayol (anterior cruciate ligament), will not play again this season.

Will Hughes could rejoin Derby's promotion run-in this weekend.

Hughes has been nursing a hip flexor problem. He has trained this week and the highly rated teenager will continue to be monitored ahead of the trip Teesside. However, Jamie Ward (hamstring) and Simon Dawkins (groin) are set to remain on the sidelines.

"Will has done some work with the medical department and he has trained for the first time with the rest of the group," said Derby first-team coach Paul Simpson. "If Will is fit, I am sure he will come into the group for the game at Middlesbrough.

"Simon Dawkins may be two or three weeks. Jamie Ward is back out on the field doing some running and we are hopeful that he is going to be available over the next few weeks."